Community Hospital South ER expedites triage process with Express Care

Patients receive high-quality emergency care with reduced wait times

Indianapolis, IN---Community Hospital South has launched a new triage and immediate bedding process in the emergency room that is designed to improve patient flow and significantly reduce wait times. Known as Express Care, this expedited triage is available during traditionally high-volume hours in the ER, from 1:00 to 11:00 p.m. every day.

“We understand our patients’ desire to see an emergency provider and receive treatment within minutes of walking through the ER front door,” said Sarah Knisely-King, R.N., emergency room director at Community Hospital South. “This process is designed to do just that.”

As patients enter the emergency room during Express Care hours, they receive an initial assessment by a triage nurse. Upon assessment by the nurse, those with more serious illnesses or injuries are sent directly to a room for evaluation by a board-certified emergency room physician. Those with minor illnesses and injuries are sent to the on-site health care provider for quick evaluation, treatment and discharge. Not only is everyone seen in a timely manner regardless of their health care status, the new process effectively frees our 29-bed emergency department for the patients who need them most.

“Community South’s door to provider time is now 23 minutes,” noted Knisely-King. “The gold standard is less than 30 minutes. We are well below that.”

Patients should note that Express Care is still considered an emergency room service and will be billed accordingly. Also, while every effort will be made for Express Care patients to be seen as quickly as possible, an unexpected heavy influx of ER patients may result in a longer-than-anticipated wait.

About Community Health Network
Ranked among the nation’s most integrated healthcare systems, Community Health Network is Central Indiana’s leader in providing convenient access to exceptional healthcare services, where and when patients need them—in hospitals, health pavilions and doctor’s offices, as well as workplaces, schools and homes. As a non-profit health system with over 200 sites of care and affiliates throughout Central Indiana, Community’s full continuum of care integrates hundreds of physicians, specialty and acute care hospitals, surgery centers, home care services, MedChecks, behavioral health and employer health services. To learn more, visit eCommunity.com or call 800-777-7775.